This week: God as redundancy. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]I suppose it is good to look at our God as redundancy in a week-long devotional
- talk about being redundant. To be quite honest, I count on this kind of redundancy.
I want to hear that story again. I want to be tickled by God's spirit again - even
when God just tickled me moments ago. Once again I was remembering that I have been
writing these devotions for over 13 years - and as I always say - it is to keep
reminding me of this God who is consistently for us. God as redundancy understands
what knuckleheads we can be even in the midst of what we may consider great faithfulness.
As followers of Jesus within God's Reign, we are not always able to remember that
following is a following in and through all times and all the aspects of our lives.
Therefore, everyday saints are saint in all things - work - play - good health and
bad health - even when we willfully turn our backs and walk away from all that God
is offering us. God as redundancy is the God whose story unfolds in Scripture and
then unfolds within the unfolding of our days.
O God of love and new life, please say it again - please act again - please hold
us again - please shake us up again - please pour your water of new life over us
so that we may never get dry up but always be refreshed by your eternal life. Amen.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for June 10, 2013
This week: God as redundancy. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]I wondered about this notion of God. Redundancy is defined as 'an act of needless
repetition. Therefore, when someone is 'laid off' in England, it is referred to
as being redundant - we have someone who also does that job - we do not need another
person - you are finished. God as redundancy may appear to be needless repetition.
The people of God know who God is and the life into which God calls us but we more
than not - go in another way - turn our backs - blow off the one whose love is ceaseless
and free. One would think that God goes far enough to pull us into God's embrace.
But then, God does it again - don't we know that? And yet, as is a common notion
about the people of God - we have amnesia. Read the book of Judges - it is a back
and forth movement of faithfulness (that doesn't last long) and faithlessness (forgetfulness)
and God having to act again. God as redundancy is God who never ceases to be only
the one God - eternally loving - unconditionally gracious - merciful without exception.
I know that I count on our God to announce the good news of the Reign of God to
me again each day - otherwise I will act in other ways that show that I have forgotten
whose I am.
O God of love and new life, tap us on the shoulder - pull at our hearts - again.
Amen.
repetition. Therefore, when someone is 'laid off' in England, it is referred to
as being redundant - we have someone who also does that job - we do not need another
person - you are finished. God as redundancy may appear to be needless repetition.
The people of God know who God is and the life into which God calls us but we more
than not - go in another way - turn our backs - blow off the one whose love is ceaseless
and free. One would think that God goes far enough to pull us into God's embrace.
But then, God does it again - don't we know that? And yet, as is a common notion
about the people of God - we have amnesia. Read the book of Judges - it is a back
and forth movement of faithfulness (that doesn't last long) and faithlessness (forgetfulness)
and God having to act again. God as redundancy is God who never ceases to be only
the one God - eternally loving - unconditionally gracious - merciful without exception.
I know that I count on our God to announce the good news of the Reign of God to
me again each day - otherwise I will act in other ways that show that I have forgotten
whose I am.
O God of love and new life, tap us on the shoulder - pull at our hearts - again.
Amen.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for June 7, 2013
This week: God as creative hospitality. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]This is how our day is meant to begin - wide open and willing to engage all and
be with any and all. That is not easy. God as creative hospitality is therefore
always present with us. Often I use the word 'tickle' for how God's Spirit awakens
us and turns our heads. There is for me also a nudge. It is that push or that pull
that takes me over the edge into that which I had not planned to go. God as creative
hospitality is that nudge. This is the never-ending moment in which we are allowed
and called to be gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast
love. Our God nudges us into that realm. I find that to be amazing. I also find
that to be a bit frightening. If I become open - if I bend and bow and consider
the other as one I will welcome - if I want to run away or point fingers of disapproval
but instead are reeled into a gracious relationship, how must I change - what must
I give up. That's how I think too often. God as creative hospitality urges me to
see what life I might gain and how I may find a new side to the fullness of God's
image.
O God of love and new life, reel us in and send us out and present us as a gift
to the world in which we move. Amen.
be with any and all. That is not easy. God as creative hospitality is therefore
always present with us. Often I use the word 'tickle' for how God's Spirit awakens
us and turns our heads. There is for me also a nudge. It is that push or that pull
that takes me over the edge into that which I had not planned to go. God as creative
hospitality is that nudge. This is the never-ending moment in which we are allowed
and called to be gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast
love. Our God nudges us into that realm. I find that to be amazing. I also find
that to be a bit frightening. If I become open - if I bend and bow and consider
the other as one I will welcome - if I want to run away or point fingers of disapproval
but instead are reeled into a gracious relationship, how must I change - what must
I give up. That's how I think too often. God as creative hospitality urges me to
see what life I might gain and how I may find a new side to the fullness of God's
image.
O God of love and new life, reel us in and send us out and present us as a gift
to the world in which we move. Amen.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for June 6, 2013
This week: God as creative hospitality. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]Just as the love of God is endless - so is the creative hospitality of God. Therefore,
the possibility for us to be hospitable in new and adventurous ways is always present.
Today we can welcome and greet and offer our lives to those to whom we would never
consider doing that previously. God as creative hospitality is not just around for
the times we are at 'church' and think we must be hospitable. This endlessly loving
God is one who is endlessly available to the world through us. When the Spirit blows
into any and all rooms, we become conspirators who will not crease to find ways
to include others - make room for others - and love others. This is one part of
our life as followers of Jesus that does not sync with the powers and principalities
of the day. These powers will not be hospitable unless it comes with a benefit -
if we do this, we will get that. But no. God as creative hospitality holds the
door open no matter what might be the consequences of such openness and sharing.
O God of love and new life, come and blow your life through ours and open our hearts
to the wideness of your love. Amen.
the possibility for us to be hospitable in new and adventurous ways is always present.
Today we can welcome and greet and offer our lives to those to whom we would never
consider doing that previously. God as creative hospitality is not just around for
the times we are at 'church' and think we must be hospitable. This endlessly loving
God is one who is endlessly available to the world through us. When the Spirit blows
into any and all rooms, we become conspirators who will not crease to find ways
to include others - make room for others - and love others. This is one part of
our life as followers of Jesus that does not sync with the powers and principalities
of the day. These powers will not be hospitable unless it comes with a benefit -
if we do this, we will get that. But no. God as creative hospitality holds the
door open no matter what might be the consequences of such openness and sharing.
O God of love and new life, come and blow your life through ours and open our hearts
to the wideness of your love. Amen.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for June 5, 2013
This week: God as creative hospitality. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as creative hospitality is a must for me. For one thing, I need quite a bit
of help in order to trust that I am fully and without condition - the Beloved of
God and welcome into that life handed to me when I am called such a character.
Then again, I also need this creative hospitality to show me what is possible. God
as creative hospitality points the way into a life that shares in that kind of creativity.
The hospitality of our God shows us the way to invite others into my life and to
encourage me to engage others with this creative hospitality that is endlessly
welcoming.
O God of love and new life, thank you for arms that never cease to embrace us even
when we seem to want no part of your Reigning glory. Amen.
of help in order to trust that I am fully and without condition - the Beloved of
God and welcome into that life handed to me when I am called such a character.
Then again, I also need this creative hospitality to show me what is possible. God
as creative hospitality points the way into a life that shares in that kind of creativity.
The hospitality of our God shows us the way to invite others into my life and to
encourage me to engage others with this creative hospitality that is endlessly
welcoming.
O God of love and new life, thank you for arms that never cease to embrace us even
when we seem to want no part of your Reigning glory. Amen.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for June 4, 2013
This week: God as creative hospitality. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as creative hospitality does not give up on us. We will always be a people who
don't really trust this God. So we go off and trust other things. God as hospitality
keeps the door open - keeps offering us another view. Sometimes, when we run through
life we begin to see things differently. As we change and move and run from here
to there, God remains the same - always welcoming us home. And yet, the welcome
comes back at us in creative ways. Some times, the good news of God's Reign looks
so strange to us that God creatively sets it out in ways that help us catch a glimpse
and see more clearly. I think that is what a parable is. God as creative hospitality
helps us see and hear what awaits us within the company of our God. At times, the
story is told with different characters in different situation - and yet it is always
the same Reign that is awaiting us with open arms.
O God of love and new life, thank you for arms that never cease to embrace us even
when we seem to want no part of your Reigning glory. Amen.
don't really trust this God. So we go off and trust other things. God as hospitality
keeps the door open - keeps offering us another view. Sometimes, when we run through
life we begin to see things differently. As we change and move and run from here
to there, God remains the same - always welcoming us home. And yet, the welcome
comes back at us in creative ways. Some times, the good news of God's Reign looks
so strange to us that God creatively sets it out in ways that help us catch a glimpse
and see more clearly. I think that is what a parable is. God as creative hospitality
helps us see and hear what awaits us within the company of our God. At times, the
story is told with different characters in different situation - and yet it is always
the same Reign that is awaiting us with open arms.
O God of love and new life, thank you for arms that never cease to embrace us even
when we seem to want no part of your Reigning glory. Amen.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for June 3, 2013
This week: God as creative hospitality. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]Some might say that creative hospitality is to give folks what they want - the customer
is always right. When that is the case, is that really being creative? Is it really
being hospitable? God as creative hospitality whips up a reality and makes sure
that we are all invited to be a part of the way it blossoms into a fullness of life.
God as creative hospitality does not ask what we want - but God does listen. There
is a difference here. We usually want things to go our way - we want to be on the
right side and make sure that those on the wrong side do not ruin our world. God
as creative hospitality listens to the demands we make and how we want things to
go and then, we are invited to share in something quite unlike our wants. It is
in that invitation that we are exposed to life that is outside our control. God
as creative hospitality finds ways to show us the fullness of God's Reign and what
can come into existence when the ways of the world - our ways and wants - do not
determine the life around us. We are not a people with a product to sell to the
world - we are a people with a character that is beloved and within the realm of
that character, we treat others as beloved. There is a 'yes' and a 'no' within
that creativity.
O God of love and new life, by your grace you welcome us into the fullness of your
Reign. You never pull back you offer of new life even when we insist on changing
that gift into something that would look more like us. We are a blessed people
because of your persistent love. Amen.
is always right. When that is the case, is that really being creative? Is it really
being hospitable? God as creative hospitality whips up a reality and makes sure
that we are all invited to be a part of the way it blossoms into a fullness of life.
God as creative hospitality does not ask what we want - but God does listen. There
is a difference here. We usually want things to go our way - we want to be on the
right side and make sure that those on the wrong side do not ruin our world. God
as creative hospitality listens to the demands we make and how we want things to
go and then, we are invited to share in something quite unlike our wants. It is
in that invitation that we are exposed to life that is outside our control. God
as creative hospitality finds ways to show us the fullness of God's Reign and what
can come into existence when the ways of the world - our ways and wants - do not
determine the life around us. We are not a people with a product to sell to the
world - we are a people with a character that is beloved and within the realm of
that character, we treat others as beloved. There is a 'yes' and a 'no' within
that creativity.
O God of love and new life, by your grace you welcome us into the fullness of your
Reign. You never pull back you offer of new life even when we insist on changing
that gift into something that would look more like us. We are a blessed people
because of your persistent love. Amen.
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